PONOMA, NY - Back in the United States in America after playing the first seven games of a ten-game road trip in Canada, the Tri-City ValleyCats dropped tonight's game 6-4 at the Boulders.

Things looked promising for the 'Cats early, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Second baseman Brantley Bell, the Frontier League leader in batting average, plated shortstop Cito Culver with a single. First baseman Brad Zunica would follow with a two-run homer that would not only leave the field, but Clover Stadium as well, landing in the parking lot beyond the stadium's right field concourse to give Tri-City a great start.

After the hosts got on the board in the bottom half of the frame via a solo blast by leftfielder David Vinsky, the ValleyCats (49-38) quickly answered in the second. With two down, Bell doubled to center to score Culver and put the 'Cats up 4-1.

The Boulders (49-38) responded, getting two runs in the second and three more in the third to take the lead. First baseman Chris Kwitzer had the big hit of the comeback, a three-run home run to right in the third. The blast closed the scoring for the night as the pitchers from both squads combined to allow just four hits, only one of which was by a Boulder batter,  and record five 1-2-3 innings from there.

The top of the ninth was not one of those instances. A walk to leftfielder Joey Campagna and a two-out single by Culver, his third hit of the night, brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate for the ValleyCats. However, Boulders reliever Danny Wirchansky racked up his seventh strikeout of the night to seal the victory. The lefty, who got the save, tossed three innings of one-hit ball in relief.

Culver celebrated his birthday by going 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while Bell and Zunica each had two hits, two RBI, and a run scored.

Vinsky finished 2-for-4 with a homer, double, two runs scored, and an RBI to pace the Boulders, now winners of four-straight.

The teams, both battling for a spot in the Frontier League playoffs, continue their weekend series on Saturday at 6:05 pm.

Tri-City, on its longest road trip of the summer, returns home on Tuesday, August 30 to host the Sussex County Miners. The 6:30 pm contest will begin a six-game homestand that closes the regular season.

Get your tickets to support the 'Cats in their push for the postseason by calling (518) 629-2287, going online, or stopping by the box office.